NIKKI LUNA

Nikki Luna (1977) studied visual art at the University of the Philippines, and she is currently undertaking her masters in Women and Development Studies at the same university. She recently received the prestigious Chevening Award to conduct a master in Art and Education at Goldsmiths, the University London, UK. In 2018 she authored the book I Love my Body to raise body awareness among girls (the book is published by Power in Her Story). In 2016, she was the recipient of a grant from the Asian Cultural Council. She exhibits her work at home (CCP; Vargas Museum; Lopez Memorial Museum) and abroad (Aichi Triennale, Japan; Singapore Biennale; Beijing Biennale; Le Festival International des textiles Extra Ordinaires, France). In 2015, she was one of the CCP 13 Artist awardees. In 2008, Nikki Luna conducted a residency at the Cooper Union Summer Art Residency in New York. And as an activist, she conducts art therapy workshops in conflict zones in the Philippines; Luna: “I believe that art is something that you can share. It feeds your soul.”

“Art is a powerful tool,” Nikki Luna says. "Art can tell peoples’ stories, retell history, incorporating the voices from the margins and continue sharing art to engage, provoke action and to promote healing in communities,” she adds. “It never crossed my mind not to speak of the injustice from the thousands of EJKS [extrajudicial killings], rape culture, misogyny under this administration,” she says. “I will continue to use my art to show the lives of the people wronged by the system.”